Rip-offs spark plea to return Aboriginal land permits

The Central Land Council (CLC) is calling on the Northern Territory and federal governments to bring back mandatory permits to enter remote Aboriginal communities.

Under the federal intervention in the Northern Territory, entering an Aboriginal community no longer requires a permit.

The CLC says the decision has left the door open for scammers to target remote areas.

The council says it has heard of several scams in central Australia, including Aboriginal people being charged thousands of dollars for family portrait packages.

The council's David Ross says the people who can least afford it are being ripped off.

"This goes to the heart of the intervention and the removal of the permits system," he said.

"It gives open access for every gold digger that wants to come along and start ripping people off."

Mr Ross says permits need to be bought back so the council knows who is going into remote areas.

"It's quite extraordinary that people can go to these limits and rip off people who are just living hand-to-mouth on a day-to-day basis and the bottom line is we need permits put back in place," he said.